You don't even have to touch new Galaxy S4 smartphone

Published: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 9:29 p.m.

NEW YORK - Samsung Electronics is kicking up its competition with Apple with its new Galaxy S 4 smartphone, which has a larger, sharper screen than its predecessor, the best-selling S III.

Samsung trumpeted the much-anticipated phone's arrival Thursday evening at an event accompanied by a live orchestra while an audience of thousands watched the onstage theatrics. The Galaxy S 4, which crams a 5-inch screen into body slightly smaller than the S III's, will go on sale globally in the April to June period.

In the U.S., it will be sold by all four national carriers -- Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA -- as well as by smaller ones US Cellular and Cricket.

Samsung did not say what the phone will cost, but it can be expected to start at $200 with a two-year contract in the U.S.

JK Shin, the executive in charge of Samsung's mobile communications division, promised the money would be well spent for a "life companion" that will "improve the way most people live every day."

One way Samsung and other makers of Android phones have been one-upping Apple is by increasing the screen size. The S III sported a screen that measures 4.8 inches on the diagonal, already substantially larger than the iPhone 5's 4-inch screen.

Apart from the larger screen and upgraded processor, the S 4 has a battery that is 20 percent larger than that of the S III. Samsung did not say if that translates into a longer battery life -- the added capacity might be gobbled up by the bigger screen or other internal changes.

The S 4 comes with a built-in infra-red diode, so it can control an entertainment center as a universal remote. The S 4 also comes with several new technologies. For instance, the screen now senses fingers hovering just above the screen, and some applications react. The Mail application shows the first few lines of an email when a finger hovers above it in the list, and the Gallery shows an expanded thumbnail image.

Users can control some other applications by making gestures in the air above the phone. In the browser, you can command the screen to scroll up by swiping from top to bottom a few inches from the phone.

The Camera application can now use both the front and rear cameras simultaneously, inserting a small picture of the user even as he is capturing the scene in front of him. When several S 4s are near each other, they can link up to play the same music, simultaneously -- perfect for headphone dance parties.

<p><em>NEW YORK</em> - Samsung Electronics is kicking up its competition with Apple with its new Galaxy S 4 smartphone, which has a larger, sharper screen than its predecessor, the best-selling S III.</p><p>Samsung trumpeted the much-anticipated phone's arrival Thursday evening at an event accompanied by a live orchestra while an audience of thousands watched the onstage theatrics. The Galaxy S 4, which crams a 5-inch screen into body slightly smaller than the S III's, will go on sale globally in the April to June period.</p><p>In the U.S., it will be sold by all four national carriers -- Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA -- as well as by smaller ones US Cellular and Cricket.</p><p>Samsung did not say what the phone will cost, but it can be expected to start at $200 with a two-year contract in the U.S.</p><p>JK Shin, the executive in charge of Samsung's mobile communications division, promised the money would be well spent for a "life companion" that will "improve the way most people live every day."</p><p>One way Samsung and other makers of Android phones have been one-upping Apple is by increasing the screen size. The S III sported a screen that measures 4.8 inches on the diagonal, already substantially larger than the iPhone 5's 4-inch screen.</p><p>Apart from the larger screen and upgraded processor, the S 4 has a battery that is 20 percent larger than that of the S III. Samsung did not say if that translates into a longer battery life -- the added capacity might be gobbled up by the bigger screen or other internal changes.</p><p>The S 4 comes with a built-in infra-red diode, so it can control an entertainment center as a universal remote. The S 4 also comes with several new technologies. For instance, the screen now senses fingers hovering just above the screen, and some applications react. The Mail application shows the first few lines of an email when a finger hovers above it in the list, and the Gallery shows an expanded thumbnail image.</p><p>Users can control some other applications by making gestures in the air above the phone. In the browser, you can command the screen to scroll up by swiping from top to bottom a few inches from the phone.</p><p>The Camera application can now use both the front and rear cameras simultaneously, inserting a small picture of the user even as he is capturing the scene in front of him. When several S 4s are near each other, they can link up to play the same music, simultaneously -- perfect for headphone dance parties.</p>